President blames California's environmental law for making wildfires worse

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Updated: 6:22 PM PDT Aug 7, 2018

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WEBVTT MIKE: WITH SMOKE -- TURNING THE SKIES GRAY OVER LAKE TAHOE BECAUSE OF WILDFIRES HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY, SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN IS BLASTING THE PRESIDENT FOR HIS ASSERTION THAT CALIFORNIA’S WATER POLICIES ARE TO BLAME. >> THAT IS NONSENSE, WE HAVE ADEQUATE WATER FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION. MIKE: SHE IS PARTICIPATING IN THE LAKE TAHOE SUMMIT. >> THE WATER IS NOT THE PROBLEM, MEN AND WOMEN ARE THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET SEVEN C-130S. TWO OF THEM ARE FIGHTING FIRES. MIKE: FIGHTING FIRES IS A YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITY IN CALIFORNIA NOW. TOM MCCLINTON -- MCCLINTOCK SUPPORTS THE PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS. >> WE LIVE IN ONE OF THE MOST WATER RICH REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY. TO BE ON PERMANENT WATER RATIONING IS NOT A FAILURE OF NATURE, THAT IS A FAILURE OF GOVERNMENT. MIKE: WITH CLIMATE CHANGE CREATING MORE SEVERE WEATHER, JOHN GARAMENDI IS CALLING FOR MORE WATER STORAGE. >> IF THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT WATER BEING INVERTED TO THE OCEAN, WHY DON’T WE BUILD FLEX RESERVOIR? -- BUILD SYKES RESERVOIR? WHERE IS THE FEDERAL MONEY? MIKE: DIANNE FEINSTEIN CONDEMNING THE IDEA -- WHILE TOM MCCLINTOCK IS SUPPORTING IT. >> WE ABANDONED OUR FORESTS IN THE 1970’S AND WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN ACREAGE DESTROYED BY FIRES. MIKE: WHILE THE POLITICAL FIGHTING OVER THE MANAGEMENT OF FORESTS SEEMS TO BE GETTING MORE INTENSE, SO ARE THE ENVIRONMENT OF CHALLENGES AND KEEPING LAKE TAHOE

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Trump's wildfire tweets fuel strong reactions at Lake Tahoe Summit

President blames California's environmental law for making wildfires worse

As 18 active wildfires burn across California, President Donald Trump has generated a firestorm of controversy over the state’s water and fire management practices.

At the 22nd annual Lake Tahoe Summit, lawmakers spoke out Tuesday against Trump's comments, while others supported his claims

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On Monday, Trump tweeted, "California wildfires are being magnified & made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which aren’t allowing massive amounts of readily available water to be properly utilized."

California wildfires are being magnified & made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which aren’t allowing massive amounts of readily available water to be properly utilized. It is being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Must also tree clear to stop fire from spreading!

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein blasted the president for asserting that California’s policies are making wildfires worse.

“That's nonsense. We have adequate water for fire suppression,” she asserted. “The water isn't the problem. Men and equipment are the problem, and we've been able to get seven C-130s (planes) -- two are now fighting fires.”

Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Roseville, said he supports Trump’s comments.

“He is absolutely right,” McClintock said. “We live in one of the most water-rich regions of the country. To be under the threat, now, of permanent, year-round water rationing isn't a failure of nature. That is a failure of government.”

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With climate change creating more severe weather, Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, is calling for more water storage.

“If the president wants to talk about water being diverted to the ocean, why don't we build Sites Reservoir?" he asked. “Where's the federal money to assist in building Sites Reservoir?"

Trump’s support for more tree cutting to clear dense forests of fuel also generated strong reactions at the Lake Tahoe Summit.

“That's ridiculous,” Feinstein said. “Look, I agree we have to do more foresting of our forests. But when the president puts in it in those sort of derogatory terms, it’s hard to accept.”